Teen who killed bus driver walks free under new Scottish law
A 15-year-old boy who killed bus driver Keith Rollinson in a drunken attack has been released without serving prison time. The teenager was sentenced to four years and four months for culpable homicide but avoided jail under new Scottish laws. The victim’s widow and political leaders have since criticised the decision.
The attack took place in February 2024 after Keith Rollinson, 58, refused the intoxicated teenager entry onto his bus. In response, the boy assaulted Rollinson repeatedly, striking him on the head and body. The driver suffered a fatal cardiac arrest as a result.
The teenager was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of culpable homicide. Judge Lady Hood confirmed that the violent assault directly caused Rollinson’s death. Despite the severity of the crime, the boy did not spend any time in prison. Under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024, young offenders are treated as children in care rather than criminals. This law allowed the teenager to avoid incarceration, despite his sentence. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay condemned the outcome, pointing out that the boy had not served a single night behind bars.
The teenager’s release has left Rollinson’s widow feeling confused and angry. The case has also sparked wider debate about how Scotland’s justice system handles violent crimes committed by minors. The boy remains under supervision, though not in prison.
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